Washing-machine.



, Patented J. K. ACKLEY. Nov WASHING MACHINE.- (Application filed Nov. 17, 1898.)

(No Model.)

E S m H W .Jttorneys In: Noam: PEI'ERS w.- PHOTO-LITNQ. wunmmom o a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JONAS K. ACKLEY, OF CARSON CITY, MICHIGAN.

WASHING- MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 636,311, dated November '7, 1899. Application filed November 17, 1898. Serial No. 696,654. (No model.)

T 0 all whom, it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, JONAS K. AOKLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oarson Oity,'in the county of Montcalm, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washing-Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in washing-machines; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out particularly in the claims.

The object of the invention is to produce a washing-machine of simple and inexpensive construction in which the arrangement is such as to enable a spring-pressed rocker to bear with pressure upon the clothes within the machine, so that as the rocker oscillates the water is successively forced from the fabric of the clothes as said rocker moves from side to side, causing a forced circulation through the fabric which carries the dirt therefrom.

A further object is to provide for regulating the spring tension upon the oscillating rocker in such manner as to enable said tension to be varied according to the quantity of clothes within the washer. 1

These objects are attained by the mechanism illustrated in the'accompanying drawings,-

in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of this improved washer. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the same, parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the machine, parts of which are also broken away.

Referring to the letters of reference, A designates the body of the machine, which is preferably rectangular in form and is support-ed upon suitable legs B. The lower portion of the washer is made of any suitable metal,while the upper portion A is made preferably of wood.

Above the bottom of the body is a supplementary bottom composed of a series of square strips b, which extend longitudinally of the washer and are arranged approximately parallel with one of their four corners uppermost. Located within the washer and adapted to bear upon said supplementary bottom is the rocker, which is composed of two segmental side pieces 0, whose curved edges are connected by a series of square transverse strips a, said strips being set into notches in the curved edges of said sides, so as to cause one of the corners of said strips to extend outward at right angles to the line of said curve. Fastened to the inner faces of the sides 0 of said rocker are two uprights D, whose upper ends extend above the body and are connected by a cross-bar or handle d. Crossing between said uprights, near the top of said body, is a shaft f, whose ends project through said uprights and carry the cross-arms E. Attached to the outer ends of said cross-arms on each side of the bodyare the coiled springs F, having the converging extensions 0, which are attached to the upper end of a link e, whose lower end is provided with a hook c, adapted to freely engage an eyebolt g, secured in the side bars H of the treadle, which bars are pivoted at h to the rear legs and extending forward are united at their forward ends by a cross-rod I. By this arrangement it will be understood that a downward pressure upon the treadle will exert tension upon the springs F and force the rocker downward upon the clothes, which are adapted to lie between said rocker and the supplementary bottom, in which position an oscillation of said rocker through the medium of the handle 01 will cause it to roll from side to side and exert a strong pressure upon the clothes over which it travels, forcing the washwater therefrom at the point of contact of the rocker therewith. As the rocker passes over the clothes they again fill with Water, so that as said rocker is oscillated the water is forced back and forth through the clothes, carrying the dirt therefrom.

Pivoted upon the cross-rod I is a pawl J which is engaged bya spring m, the force of which holds the free end of said pawl upward against the notched bar K on the under side of the body, so that the free end of said pawl is adapted to engage in'the notches n in said bar to hold the treadle down after being depressed, so as to maintain a proper pressure upon the rocker through the springs F. The notches in said bar provide for varying the tension placed upon said springs F, according to the quantity of clothes in the machine. As the rocker oscillates from side to side,as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, the springs F yield to permit of this movement, but at all times maintain a strong downward pressure upon the rocker, which pressure increases as said rocker passes in either direction beyond a vertical line therethrough, while the shaft f turns, so as to distribute the strain equally between the two springs F.

WVhen it is desired to remove the rocker from the body, the links 6 may be disengaged from the eyebolts in the treadle, when said rocker may be lifted out of the body, as will be understood, or when it is desired to lift the rocker from the bottom of the body the pawl J may be disengaged from the rack-bar and the treadle raised, so as to permit the raising of the rocker and the placing of the clothes thereunder.

Located in the bottom of the body is a spout L, through which the water may be drawn when desired.

Having thus fully set forth my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a washing-machine, the combination of the body, the rocker seated therein, the uprights attached to said rocker, the shaft passing through said uprights, the cross-arms attached to the ends of said shaft, the springs attached to said cross-arms, the treadle and the links connecting said treadle with said springs.

L 2. In a washing-machine, the combination of the body having a slatted false bottom, the rocker also provided with a slatted bottom, springs for maintaining a downward pressure upon said rocker, a treadle connected with said springs for placing tension thereon, and a spring-actuated pawlon said treadle adapted to engage a notched bar on the bottom of the body to maintain the treadle in a depressed position.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

JONAS K. ACKLEY.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL J. SMITH, LOVINA S. ACKLEY. 

